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Brian Slowinksi, a Columbia County Republican, has announced he will seek the 10th District congressional seat that would come open next year when Rep. Paul Broun runs for U.S. Senate.

Slowinski, former chairman of the county Republican Party, ran unsuccessfully for the Columbia County School Board District 1 seat last year, coming in third in the three-way race.

In an emailed announcement and attached link to an online video, Slowinski described himself as a “longtime Columbia County conservative Republican activist and Tea Party leader,” and stated economic issues would be his primary focus.

Broun, an Athens Republican who has held the 10th District seat since winning a special election after the death of Charlie Norwood in 2007, on Wednesday announced his intention to forego reelection and instead seek the U.S. Senate seat held by Saxby Chambliss, who recently announced his retirement.

The 10th District previously included all of Columbia County, but during reapportionment last year the 12th District moved into most of the county’s area. Just more than 11,000 Columbia County registered voters remain in the 10th District, which stretches along the western and northern edges of the county.

Slowinski lives in Evans, outside the 10th District, but residence in a congressional district is not a requirement for seeking the office.

Democrat John Barrow won the 12th District seat in November, defeating Appling Republican Lee Anderson. After being drawn out of the district during reapportionment, Barrow moved to Augusta from Savannah before the election.